TERRIBLE FATALITY AT FOXTON

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXVI, Issue 13513, 23 October 1911, Page 5

TERRIBLE FATALITY AT FOXTON

EIGHT PALMERSTON PEOPLE

DROWNED

(Per United Press Association.) PALMERSTON N., October 22. A terrible boating accident occurred at To Wiinraiigi .seaside, resort at Foxton Heads this mooting. Large numbers of Palmerston people have, cottages there whore they stay week-end;: and -over the summer. These have motor launches on the river, and a party of ladies and children were going out this morning in Robert’s motor launch. There, was a sharp breeze and a jobblo and a dinghy was much overloaded and capsized and sank. Before any boats could be launched from the shore, all were drowned. They were Mrs. Percy Robert, of Palmerston North, and her two sous, Mrs. Grove (wife of Mr. Grovo, motor expert, .Palmerston North), and one child, Miss Fanny O’Sulliean (daught or of Captain O’Sullivan of the Defence Department, Wellington) and Miss Arnold, of Nelson.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS. How the Accident Occurred. PALMERSTON' N., October 22. Further particulars of the boating catastrophe at Fox ton Heads show that tho following'were drowned;— Agnes Isabella Grove, wife of Mr. Eugene. Grove, motor expert at Dunk and Pringle’s, aged 3-t years; Rex Eugene Grove, 6 years; "John Hardy Grove, 3 years; Fanny Robert, wife, of Percy Robert, uniform and regalia manufacturer; Leslie Robert, aged 10; Douglas Robert, rued 8: Florence Arnold, 24, late of Kltbam; and Grace O’Sullivan, aged 22, daughter of .Major J. O’Sullivan, director of the equipment stores, Defenoe Department, Wellington. The party had arranged for a motor launch picnic, and the morning broke windy, and with a fresh in the river against which the wind raised a considerable sea. It was decided that it was too rough for the ladies and children but the men went for a cruise.

About eleven o’clock they eamo buck and then decided to take the rest on board. While the launch held off the shore in tho tide-way with Chris, llobcrt, the eldest son of Percy Robert, and Cam. Turner aboard, Air. Robert and Mr. Grove proceeded to bring tho women and children on hoard in a small flat-bottom-ed dinghy. The rowers had three chains to coyer to the launch, but did not allow sufficiently tor the rush of tide consequent on the fresh in the river sweeping towards the heads, consequently they missed tho launch and were swept down with the tide lin’d out into the rougher v*ator. In an effort to recover the launch, the boat was swamped and all tho occupants thrown into the water. Not many persons witnessed the accident,' but Messrs Young and Langley, who saw tho heavily laden boat go out, apprehensive of tho danger, launched another boat’, and while pulling out saw the tragedy occur. They only succeeded in saving Mr. Robert, Senr.

Meanwhile, Messrs. Mounter and Torino son. went out in another boat and the result was the rescue of Mr. Grove. Five bodies, those of Airs. Grove, Airs Robert,-. Miss Arnold, and the two Grove children, were recovered, hut restorative measures proved futile. Messrs Grove ami Robert were both exhausted when recovered. An inquest is being held to-day. A FATAL HOLIDAY. KELSON. October 23. Miss Arnold was the second daughter of Air \Y. Arnold of Spring Grove. She had been spending a holiday with friends at Palmerston. Airs Groves was a daughter of Mr John Mead of Wai-Iti, and°Msas Arnold was her great friend for many Years.